Thursday, 18 August 2016

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has petitioned the British High Commission against his continuous trial by the federal government.

Kanu was arrested by officials of the Department of State Securities (DSS) in October, 2015. A situation which generated mass protest in the southeastern part of Nigeria. He is yet to be released from detention.

The letter written by a member of Kanu’s family reads:

“We write to the British High Commission on the ugly direction the politically orchestrated trial of Nnamdi Kanu (a British citizen) is premised on a most concocted charges of treasonable felony is gradually assuming.

“In the face of this conspiratorial plot by the Nigerian government to hang our client at all cost and by any means, we respectfully invite the British government to demonstrate more responsive concern in restoring the dignity and freedom if our client whose fundamental rights as guaranteed under the supreme laws of the land and relevant international conventions has been grossly violated by Nigerian government.

“Despite our stiff opposition to this application (protection of witnesses), the honourable court for reasons best known to him, apparently not supported by any legal precedence or judicial authorities made a volte-face and strangely varied the order he made on the 19th day of February, 2016.

“In effect, the court granted an application for a secret trial of our client, a British citizen obviously sitting in appeal against his order made on the February 2016,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, the federal government has released all IPOB members who were arrested in Aba, Abia state, during their prayer rally in February, 2016.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, ordered security agencies in the state to release the Biafra agitators, who were in detention camps and prison custody.